German Car Scene

Month: July 2012

  • Porsche Cayenne ‘Progressor’ by JE Design


    Leingarten-based styling specialist JE Design has developed a wide-body program for the (Type 958) Porsche Cayenne SUV.

    The ‘Progressor’ package consists of an aggressive fascia with optimized air intakes, flared wheel arch extensions, side skirts, a ventilated hood, side roof spoiler extensions and a vented rear bumper with integrated diffuser. The kit also includes a pair of fog lamps and high beam lights, factory LED units from the GTS model and quadruple 100 mm tailpipes. Rear mufflers with throttle control can be added for the S, GTS and Turbo versions.

    A choice of two wheel styles are available; the flat-faced SUV-Select and the Scorpio. Sized 10×22-inches and wrapped in 295/30 R tyres, JE also adds 60mm and 80mm spacers to fill out the new arches. Lowering the Cayenne is the company’s air suspension module, which allows the owner to adjust its ride height via an iPhone app.

    JE Design tells us that it can carry out the conversion, including fitting and painting of the kit along with suspension and wheels from €28,038, while engine upgrades are available for both petrol and diesel models, with the Cayenne Turbo capable of producing 455 kW (610 hp).

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  • Rainer Zietlow begins a new adventure


    Not content with completing the Pan-American highway route from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego in the fastest time ever, off-road enthusiast Rainer Zietlow has set off on a new world record tour from Melbourne to St. Petersburg.

    Once again, the team’s vehicle of choice is a Volkswagen Touareg, which uses the standard 165 kW (221 hp) 3-litre V6 TDI Clean Diesel engine, but does have additional equipment including an extra fuel tank, roll-cage and GPS system that allows fans to monitor the progress of Zietlow at Touareg-Russtralia.

    The plan is to travel from the earth’s southernmost city 23,000 kilometres to its northernmost counterpart in under three weeks. The event will see the Touareg encounter extreme heat, torrential rain, sandstorms and varying altitudes and, in the style of a dispatch rider, Zietlow is aiming to deliver a letter from Melbourne’s Mayor to St. Petersburg’s top city official.
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  • Prospeed Audi quattro at Kyustendil [video]


    Here’s a new video featuring Prospeed’s Bulgarian 2011 Hillclimb Championship-winning Audi in action at this year’s Kyustendil round. Once again piloted by Nikolay Zlatkov, this Sport quattro S1 replica, which was built from a humble Coupe bodyshell, is churning out over 800 hp – and it certainly sounds like it. Be sure to put some earplugs in if you turn your speakers up…
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  • ABT AS7 Audi S7 Sportback


    Kempten-based tuning specialist ABT Sportsline has developed its AS7 program for the Audi S7 Sportback.

    ABT’s Power Kit upgrade for the twin-turbocharged 4.0 TFSI V8 unit, which includes an ECU remap, exhaust system and optimized air intake, sees output rise from 309 kW (420 hp) and 550 Nm (406 lb/ft) of torque to a more enjoyable 382 kW (520 hp) and 650 Nm (479 lb/ft), resulting in an improved top speed of 290 km/h (180 mph) rather than the factory car’s governed figure of 250 km/h (155 mph).

    Visually, ABT hasn’t touched the bodywork, but the usual range of 20 and 21-inch wheels are on offer, including the DR items shown here, while the ride height is taken care of thanks to a set of sport springs or the company’s Level Control module to suit cars fitted with air suspension.
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  • NLC Porsche Panamera GP-970


    Hüffenhardt-based tuning specialist No Limit Custom has developed this questionable looking styling program for the Porsche Panamera.

    The NLC carbon fibre aero package includes a replacement hood, front bumper with large, angular air intakes and a rear bumper with aggressive diffuser. As well as the diffuser section; the front spoiler, side skirts, rear plate recess and roof spoiler are also finished in clear-coated carbon.

    Completing the look is a set of the company’s own 9.5 and 11×22-inch five-spoke forged wheels covered in 265/30 and 315/25 tyres. There’s also a cat-back exhaust system with adjustable flap control and quadruple tailpipes.

    If the designer of this kit was going for an ‘aggrieved snake with no teeth’ look, we’d say mission accomplished.
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  • Manhart MH1 S-Biturbo 1M Coupe


    Following on from its MH5 S-Biturbo program, Geilenkirchen-based tuner Manhart Racing GmbH has done the same for BMW’s 1 Series M coupe.

    The company’s Stage 3 package includes remapped ECU software, an upgraded intercooler and oil cooler, a carbon fibre air intake and ducting and a replacement exhaust system. Those changes see output rise from 246 kW (335 hp) and 450 Nm (332 lb/ft) of torque to 347 kW (465 hp) and 600 Nm (443 lb/ft).

    Underneath, there’s a KW coilover suspension kit and 20-inch AC Schnitzer Type V Forged alloy wheels wrapped in Continental Sport Contact 5 tyres, while bodywork additions include a carbon fibre front lip, vented hood, mirror casings, trunk spoiler and rear diffuser. Inside the cabin, Manhart fits its MHR-embossed BMW Performance bucket seats.
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